Fluid Treatment Arrangements And Methods For Operating Fluid Treatment Arrangements

ABSTRACT

Fluid treatment arrangements ( 10 ) and methods for operating fluid treatment arrangements ( 10 ) may include fluid treatment assemblies ( 11 ) and manifold assemblies ( 12 ) that direct fluids to and/or from the fluid treatment assemblies ( 11 ).

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fluid treatment arrangements andmethods for operating fluid treatment arrangements. In particular,arrangements or methods embodying the invention may include fluidtreatment assemblies and manifold assemblies that direct fluids toand/or from the fluid treatment assemblies. The fluids may be gases,liquids, or mixtures of gases, liquids, and/or solids, and the fluidtreatment assemblies may be used to treat the fluids in any of a widevariety of ways.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a fluid treatmentarrangement may comprise a fluid treatment assembly, a manifoldassembly, a hollow coupler, and an actuator assembly. The fluidtreatment assembly has at least one fitting, which may be an inletfitting or an outlet fitting. The manifold assembly also has at leastone fitting. The actuator assembly is associated with at least one ofthe fluid treatment assembly, the manifold assembly, and the coupler andis movable between a first position and a second position. In the firstposition of the actuator assembly, the coupler is uncoupled from atleast one of the fittings of the fluid treatment assembly and themanifold assembly. In the second position of the actuator assembly, thecoupler sealingly couples the fittings of the fluid treatment assemblyand the manifold assembly, allowing fluid to flow between the fittings.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method foroperating a fluid treatment arrangement may comprise moving an actuatorassembly between a first position and a second position. In the firstposition of the actuator assembly, a coupler does not sealingly couple afitting of a fluid treatment assembly and a fitting of a manifoldassembly. By moving the actuator assembly to the second position, thecoupler sealingly couples the fittings of the fluid treatment assemblyand the manifold assembly, allowing fluid to flow between the fittings.

Arrangements and method embodying these aspects of the invention havemany advantages. For example, these embodiments may be less expensiveand more versatile. The coupler sealingly couples the fittings so thefittings may be fabricated to less demanding tolerances, lowering thecost of the fluid treatment assembly and the manifold assembly. Further,because the coupler sealingly couples the fittings, fittings ofdifferent types, including matched or mismatched fittings, can be used.Thus, many different types of fluid treatment assemblies may be usedwith one manifold assembly and vice versa.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a fluid treatmentarrangement may comprise a fluid treatment assembly, a support, and amanifold assembly. The fluid treatment assembly includes at least onefitting. The manifold assembly also includes at least one fitting, andthe fitting is detachably mounted to the support. The fittings of thefluid treatment assembly and the manifold assembly are arranged to becoupled to and uncoupled from one another.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method foroperating a fluid treatment arrangement may comprise uncoupling afitting of a manifold assembly and a fitting of a fluid treatmentassembly and then detaching the fitting of the manifold assembly from asupport. The detached fitting may then be subjected to any of a varietyof procedures, including a cleaning procedure. The method furthercomprises reattaching the fitting to the support and coupling thereattached fitting of the manifold assembly and a fitting of a fluidtreatment assembly.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method ofoperating a fluid treatment arrangement may comprise uncoupling a firstfitting of a manifold assembly and a fitting of a fluid treatmentassembly and then detaching the first fitting of the manifold assemblyfrom a support. The method further comprises attaching a second fittingof the manifold assembly to the support and the coupling the secondfitting of the manifold assembly and a fitting of a fluid treatmentassembly.

Arrangements and methods embodying these aspects of the invention alsohave many advantages. For example, these embodiments may be moreefficient as well as more versatile. One or more fittings of themanifold assembly may become plugged when materials in the fluid flowingthrough the fittings settle and collect within the channels in thefittings. Because the fittings may be detachably mounted to the support,they can be quickly detached and inspected and, if desired, cleaned orreplaced. This reduces downtime, enhances the performance of the fluidtreatment arrangement, and increases throughput. Further, fluidtreatment assemblies with many different types of fittings may be usedwith one manifold assembly by simply detaching from the support thefittings of the manifold assembly which are not compatible with thefittings of the fluid treatment assembly and reattaching to the supportcompatible fittings.

In accordance with another aspect 6f the invention, a fluid treatmentassembly may comprise a fluid treatment assembly, a manifold assembly,and an actuator assembly. The fluid treatment assembly may include firstand second opposite ends. A first fitting may be associated with thefirst end of the fluid treatment assembly and a second fitting may beassociated with the second end of the fluid treatment assembly. Themanifold assembly may also include first and second fittings. Theactuator assembly may be cooperatively arranged with at least one of thefluid treatment assembly and the manifold assembly and may be movablebetween a first position and a second position. In the first position ofthe actuator assembly, the first fitting of the fluid treatment assemblyand the first fitting of the manifold assembly are not sealingly coupledto one another, and a second fitting of the fluid treatment assembly andthe second fitting of the manifold assembly are not sealingly coupled toone another. In the second position of the actuator assembly, the firstfittings of the fluid treatment assembly and the manifold assembly aresealingly coupled to one another and the second fittings of the fluidtreatment assembly and the manifold assembly are sealingly coupled toone another, allowing fluid to flow between the first fittings andbetween the second fittings.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method foroperating a fluid treatment arrangement comprising moving an actuatorassembly between a first position and a second position. In the firstposition of the actuator assembly a first fitting at one end of a fluidtreatment assembly and a first fitting of a manifold assembly are notsealingly coupled to one another and a second fitting at an opposite endof the fluid treatment assembly and a second fitting of the manifoldassembly are not sealingly coupled to one another. Moving the actuatorassembly to the second position includes sealingly coupling the firstfittings of the fluid treatment assembly and the manifold assembly andsealingly coupling the second fittings of the fluid treatment assemblyand manifold assembly, thereby allowing fluid to flow between the firstfittings and between the second fittings.

Arrangements and methods embodying these aspects of the invention alsohave many advantages. For example, these embodiments may be moreefficient. A new fluid treatment assembly may be installed very quickly.By simply moving the actuator assembly to the second position, thefittings at both ends of the fluid treatment assembly are coupled to thefittings of the manifold assembly, for example, at the same time ornearly the same time. This reduces downtime and, therefore, increasesthroughput.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C are elevation, side and top view, respectively, ofa fluid treatment arrangement without a fluid treatment assembly.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C are a sectioned elevation view, a sectioned sideview, and a top view of a fluid treatment arrangement with the fittingsof the manifold assembly uncoupled from the fittings of the fluidtreatment assembly.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are a sectioned elevation view, a sectioned sideview, and a top view of a fluid treatment arrangement with the fittingsof the manifold assembly and the fluid treatment assembly sealinglycoupled to one another.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are a sectional elevation view and a sectional plan viewof a pair of fittings and a corresponding support.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are a sectional elevation view and a sectional plan viewof a pair of couplers and a corresponding support.

FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are sectional elevation views of couplers andfittings.

FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are a sectioned elevation view, a sectioned sideview, and a top view of a fluid treatment arrangement with the fittingsof the manifold assembly uncoupled from the fittings of the fluidtreatment assembly.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C are a sectioned elevation view, a sectioned sideview, and a top view of a fluid treatment arrangement with the fittingsof the manifold assembly and the fittings of the fluid treatmentassembly coupled to one another.

FIG. 9 is a sectioned elevation view of a pair of fluid treatmentarrangements connected in parallel.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

Fluid treatment arrangements which embody one or more aspects of theinvention may be structured in a wide variety of ways. One of manyexamples of a fluid treatment arrangement 10 is shown in FIG. 1-3. Theillustrated fluid treatment arrangement 10 generally comprises a fluidtreatment assembly 11, a manifold assembly 12, a hollow coupler 13, andan actuator assembly 14.

Fluid treatment assemblies may be structured in any of numerous ways andmay have any regular or irregular shape. For example, the fluidtreatment assembly 11 may include a housing 20 and a fluid treatmentmedium 21 permanently or removably positioned in the housing 20 to treatfluid flowing through the housing 20. The housing has one or morefittings. For example, the housing 20 may have an inlet fitting 22 andat least one outlet fitting 23 which define a fluid flow path throughthe fluid treatment assembly 11. The inlet and outlet fittings 22, 23may be positioned at opposite ends of the housing 20, as shown in theillustrated embodiment. Alternatively, the inlet and outlet fittings maybe positioned at various locations on the housing. For example, all ofthe fittings may be positioned at one end of the housing. Examples offluid treatment assemblies having fittings at one end of the housing aredisclosed in International Publication No. WO 01/95993 A2, which isincorporated by reference in its entirety. In addition to the inlet andoutlet fittings, the fluid treatment assembly may include otherfittings, e.g., another outlet fitting (not shown) or a vent fitting 24or a drain fitting 25.

Fluid treatment assemblies may be used to treat a fluid in any ofnumerous ways. For many embodiments, the fluid treatment assembly may beused in a separation process to separate one or more substances from afluid. For example, the separation process may involve particlefiltration, where particles of a predetermined size may be excluded fromthe fluid by the fluid treatment medium. The fluid treatment medium maythen comprise any suitable porous filtration medium, such as amicrofiltration, ultrafiltration, or nano-filtration medium.Alternatively, the separation process may involve chemical separation,where one or more ions or charged or uncharged chemical compounds,including molecules, may be excluded from, or concentrated in, a fluidby the fluid treatment medium. The fluid treatment medium may thencomprise any suitable permeable or semipermeable membrane or anysuitable capture medium which, for example, physically or chemicallyfinds the ions or compounds.

The fluid treatment assembly may be configured for any desired fluidflow mode. For example, the fluid treatment assembly 11 may beconfigured in a dead end flow mode, where the fluid treatment medium 23is positioned across the fluid flow path through the housing 20. Fluiddirected into the inlet fitting 21 passes along the fluid flow paththrough the fluid treatment medium 23 to the outlet fitting 22.

Alternatively, the fluid treatment assembly may be configured in a crossflow mode, where the housing has an inlet fitting and first and secondoutlet fittings and defines first and second fluid flow paths. The firstfluid flow path extends from the inlet fitting tangentially along thefluid treatment medium to the first outlet fitting, and the second flowpath extends from the first flow path through the fluid treatment mediumto the second outlet fitting. Fluid directed into the inlet fittingpasses along the first flow path. A portion of the fluid, i.e., thefiltrate or the permeate, passes along the second fluid flow paththrough the fluid treatment medium to the second outlet fitting. Theremainder of the fluid, i.e., the retentate or the concentrate,continues along the first fluid flow path to the first outlet fitting.

The manifold assembly 12 includes one or more fittings which arearranged to be coupled to some or all of the fittings of the fluidtreatment assembly. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, themanifold assembly 11 includes four fittings, i.e., a feed fitting 30, afiltrate fitting 31, a vent fitting 32, and a drain fitting 33, whichare respectively couplable to the inlet fitting 22, the outlet fitting23, the vent fitting 24, the drain fitting 25 of the fluid treatmentassembly 11. The fluid treatment assembly may be held in a carriagewhich aligns the fittings of the fluid treatment assembly with theappropriate fittings of the manifold assembly. The carriage may bevariously configured and may be stationary or movable with respect tothe manifold assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, the carriage 26comprises opposed plates 27, 28 attached to the manifold assembly 12 andpositioned near the ends of the fluid treatment assembly 11. Aregistration mechanism ensures that the fittings 22-25 of the fluidtreatment arrangement 11 are aligned with the fittings 30-33 of themanifold assembly 12. The registration mechanism may be variouslystructured. In the illustrated embodiment, the registration mechanismcomprises cutouts 29 in which the fittings 22-25 of the fluid treatmentassembly 11 may be positioned.

The manifold assembly 12 directs fluids to and/or from the fluidtreatment assembly 11 and may serve as an interface between the fluidtreatment assembly 11 and the remainder of the fluid system (not shown).The manifold assembly may be structured in a wide variety of ways. Forexample, the manifold assembly may include a housing which may have anyregular or irregular shape and may include internal fluid channelscoupled to the fittings of the manifold assembly. However, for manyembodiments, the housing 34 of the manifold assembly 12 may simplycomprise a bracket 35, and external fluid conduits 36 may be coupled tothe fittings 30, 31, 32, and 33.

The fittings of the manifold assembly, as well as the fittings of thefluid treatment assembly, may be variously configured. For manyembodiments, the fittings may have a hollow, generally elongate body 40with a fluid channel 41 extending through the body 40 and a nozzle 42 ora receptacle 43 which receives a nozzle 42 at one end of the body 40.Different types of nozzles and receptacles may have different shapes,some of which are disclosed in International Publication No. WO 01/95993A2. The opposite end of the fitting body 40 may include a coupling 44,such as a threaded coupling or a swagelok coupling, which is couplableto a fluid conduit (not shown).

The fittings and the housing of the manifold assembly may be configuredin any manner which accommodates the fittings of the fluid treatmentassembly. For example, the fittings and the housing of the manifoldassembly may be arranged to be located at only one end of the fluidtreatment assembly if the fittings of the fluid treatment assembly areall at one end. In the illustrated embodiment, the fittings 30-33 andthe housing 34 of the manifold assembly 12 are arranged to be disposedat both ends of the fluid treatment assembly 11 to accommodate thefittings 22-25 at both ends. For example, the housing 34 may extendbeyond both ends of the fluid treatment assembly 11 and may align themanifold fittings 30-33 with the corresponding fittings 22-25 at eachend of the fluid treatment assembly 11.

The fittings of the manifold assembly may be mounted to the housing ofthe manifold assembly. For example, some or all of the fittings may bepermanently mounted to the housing or semipermanently mounted to thehousing, i.e., where removal of the fittings requires considerableeffort and/or special tools. However, for many embodiments, some or allof the fittings may be detachably mounted to the housing, i.e., whereremoval of the fittings is relatively easy and entails, at most, the useof ordinary tools such as a screwdriver or a wrench. The fittings mayeven be directly detachable from the housing, i.e., where removal of thefittings may be effected without the use of any tools.

The fittings of the manifold assembly may be mounted in a variety ofways which allow them to be detached or directly detached. For example,the fittings may be mounted in any number of snap fit arrangements. Oneexample of a snap fit arrangement is shown in FIGS. 1-4. The housing 34of the manifold assembly 12 may include a support 50 at one or both endsof the bracket 35. The support 50 may extend from and be fixed to a base51 of the bracket 35. The support 50 may have an outer edge 52 intowhich one or more cutouts 53, e.g., generally C-shaped cutouts, areformed. Each C-shaped cutout 53 may have a diameter which corresponds tothe diameter of the body 40 of the fitting which is intended to occupythe cutout. In addition, the cutout 53 may encompass somewhat more than180°, which would provide an opening 54 at the outer edge 52 that issomewhat smaller than the diameter of the cutout 53. Alternatively, thecutout may encompass 180° or less, but the fitting may then mount to thecutout without a snap-fit arrangement.

To fit in the cutout 53, the body 40 of the fitting 30-33 may comprise aportion having an outer diameter approximately equal to the diameter ofthe cutout 53. For example, a groove 60 may be formed in the outerperiphery of the fitting body 40, where the width of the groove 60corresponds to the thickness of the support 50 at the cutout 53 and thedepth of the groove 60 provides the appropriate diameter. Alternatively,the outer periphery of the fitting body may provide the appropriatediameter, and spaced, parallel flanges may extend outwardly from thebody, forming a groove between them. The distances between the flangesmay correspond to the thickness of the support at the cutout 53.

To attach the fitting 30-33 of the manifold assembly 11 to the support50, for example, to directly attach the fitting 30-33, the fitting 30-33may simply be slid into the C-shaped cutout 53 with the edge of thesupport 50 in the groove 60 of the fitting 30-33. The fitting 30-33 mayhave an outer diameter in the groove 60 which is somewhat larger thanthe opening 54 at the outer edge 52 of the support 50, and the fitting30-33 then “snaps” into place as it slides through the narrower opening54 and is maintained laterally in place by the narrower opening 54. Withthe edge of the support 50 lodged in the groove 60 of the fitting 30-33,the fitting 30-33 is also locked axially in place with respect to thesupport 50. Before or after the fitting 30-33 is snapped in place in thecutout 53, a fluid conduit (not shown) may be coupled to the end of thefitting 30-33 with the coupling 44.

To detach the fitting 30-33 from the support 50, for example, todirectly detach the fitting 30-33, the fitting 30-33 may simply beforced, for example, by hand, laterally through the opening 54 at theouter edge 52 of the support 50. Before or after the fitting 30-33 isremoved from the cutout 53, a fluid conduit (not shown) may be uncoupledfrom the coupling 44 at the end of the fitting 30-33.

The hollowing coupler 13 may be arranged to provide a flow path betweenaligned fittings of the manifold assembly and the fluid treatmentassembly, and the actuator assembly 14 may be arranged to sealinglycouple and uncouple the coupler and the aligned fittings. The couplermay be structured in a variety of ways. For example, the coupler maycomprise a hollow, elongate body. As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, theelongate body may comprise a generally cylindrical sleeve 61, and thesleeve 61 may have a straight bore 62 which defines a channel extendingbetween opposed, tapered ends 63 of the sleeve 61. The inner diameter ofthe bore 62 corresponds to the outer diameter of the body of the alignedfittings 22-25, 30-33 of the fluid treatment assembly 11 and themanifold assembly 12. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the bodies of each pairof aligned fittings 22-25, 30-33 have substantially equal outerdiameters which correspond to the inner diameter of the bore 62 of thesleeve 61. The sleeve 61 and one or both fitting bodies 40 may bearranged to relatively move coaxially with the coupler 13 sliding alongthe exterior of the bodies 40 to couple and uncouple the aligned pair offittings. One or more seal rings 64 may be positioned between the bodies40 of the fittings and sleeve 61 to seal the sleeve 61 to any fitting inthe bore 62 of the sleeve 61. Many different types of fittings with manydifferent types of nozzles or receptacles may be accommodated by thesame coupler, for example, if the outer diameter of all of the fittingbodies corresponds to the inner diameter of the coupler.

Various examples of differently configured couplers and fittings areshown in FIGS. 6A-6C. For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, the elongatebody of the coupler 13 may have a channel with a different innerdiameter at each end to accommodate an aligned pair of fittings withbodies 40 having different outer diameters. The coupler 13 and one orboth fitting bodies 40 may be arranged to relatively move coaxially,with the coupler 13 sliding along the exterior of the bodies 40, tocouple and uncouple the aligned pair of fittings.

As shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C, the coupler 13 may be arranged to fitwithin the interior, rather than on the exterior, of the bodies 40 ofthe pair of aligned fittings. The coupler 13 may have the same outerdiameter at each end, as shown in FIG. 6B, or a different outer diameterat each end, as shown in FIG. 6C. The coupler 13 and one or both fittingbodies 40 may be arranged to relatively move coaxially, with the coupler13 sliding along the interior of the bodies 40 to couple and uncouplethe aligned pair of fittings.

The actuator assembly 14 may be structured in a wide variety of ways andmay be associated with any one or more of the fluid treatment assembly,the manifold assembly, and/or the coupler to couple and uncouple thefittings of the fluid treatment assembly and the manifold assembly. Formany embodiments, the coupler and the fittings, or just the fittings,may be moved relative to one another by the actuator assembly in adirection that is substantially coaxial along much or all of the rangeof movement. The manifold assembly, the actuator assembly, and thecarriage may be arranged in any manner, for example, such that thefittings may be stationary while the coupler moves; the coupler may bestationary while the fittings move; the coupler and the fittings of oneor both of the fluid treatment assembly and the manifold assembly maymove; or the coupler may be eliminated and the fittings of one or bothof the fluid treatment assembly and the manifold assembly may move.

Various actuator assemblies may be used to effect this movement. Forexample, the actuator assembly may be configured as a screw mechanism inwhich the movement is effected by turning a screw between first andsecond angular positions. The actuator assembly may be configured as acam mechanism in which a lever may be rotated between first and secondangular positions to effect the movement. As another example, theactuator assembly may be configured as a slide mechanism in which ahandle translates linearly between first and second positions to effectthe movement.

For many embodiments, the actuator assembly 14 may be configured as apivoting mechanism in which a handle 70 pivots between first and secondpositions to effect relative coaxial, linear movement of the fittings22-25, 30-33 and/or the couplers 13. The pivoting mechanism may beconfigured in a variety of ways, one example of which is shown in FIGS.1-3. In addition to the handle 70, the pivoting mechanism of theactuator assembly 14 may include one or more pivot pins 71 and a linkage72 connected to the handle 70. The linkage may be structured in manydifferent ways depending, for example, on whether there are fittings atonly one end or at both ends of the fluid treatment assembly. An exampleof a linkage 72 that connects slide plates 73 of the actuator assembly14 at both ends of the fluid treatment assembly 11 to the lever 70 isshown in FIGS. 1-3. The linkage 72 may include any number of links 80,pins 81 and/or rails 82 to effect linear translation of the slide plates73 in a direction generally parallel to the axes of the fittings 22-25,30-33 and/or the couplers 13 in response to pivoting movement of thehandle 70.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the fittings 22-25, 30-33 ofthe fluid treatment assembly 11 and the manifold assembly 12 may bestationary, while the couplers 13 may be mounted to the actuatorassembly 14, e.g., the slide plates 73, for sliding movement between thefittings 22-25, 30-33. The couplers 13 may be permanently,semipermanently, detachably or directly detachably mounted to theactuator assembly 14 in any number of ways. For many embodiments, thecouplers 13 may be detachably, e.g., directly detachably, mounted to theslide plates 73 in a snap-fit arrangement. For example, couplers 13 maybe mounted to the slide plates 73 in the same way the fittings 30-33 ofthe manifold assembly 12 are mounted to the supports 50. Each slideplate 73 may thus include cutouts 83, e.g., C-shaped cutouts, in theouter edge 84 of the plate. The cutouts 83 of the side plates 73, thecutouts 53 of the supports 50, and the cutouts 29 in the end plates 27,28 may be arranged to coaxially align the couplers 13 and the fittings22-25, 30-33. The cutouts 83 of the slide plates 73 may also encompasssomewhat more than 180°, defining an opening 85 at the outer edge 84which is smaller than the inner diameter of the cutout 83. The cutouts83 in the slide plates 73, 74 and the cutouts 53 in the support 50 maybe arranged to coaxially align the fittings 30-33 and the correspondingcouplers 13. Similarly, the coupler 13 may include a groove 90 in theouter periphery of the sleeve 61 which has an outer diametercorresponding to the inner diameter of the cutout 83 but somewhatsmaller than the size of the opening 85 at the outer edge 84 of theplate 73. The width of the groove 90 may correspond to the thickness ofthe edge of the plate 73. The couplers 13 may thus be snap fit into andout of engagement with the slide plates 73, 74 in the same way thefittings 30-33 of the manifold assembly 12 may be snap-fit into and outof engagement with the supports 50. Once the couplers 13 are engaged inthe cutouts 83 of the slide plates 73, the couplers 13 are axiallylocked to the slide plates 73 and move axially with the slide plates 73.

Fluid treatment arrangements may be used in many different modes ofoperation. For example, in one mode of operation, a fluid treatmentassembly 11 may be positioned in a carriage 26 with the fittings 22-25aligned with the corresponding fittings 30-33 of the manifold assembly12, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The manifold assembly fittings 30-33may be positioned in the supports 50, and the couplers 13 may be mountedonly along the bodies 40 of the manifold assembly fittings 30-33 andpositioned in the slide plates 73. The actuator assembly 14 may then bemoved between a first position and a second position. For example, thehandle 70 may be pivoted between a first position and a second position,e.g., between the raised position shown in FIG. 2B and the loweredposition shown in FIG. 3B.

In the first position of the actuator assembly 14, the couplers 13 maybe uncoupled from at least one of the fittings 22-25 of the fluidtreatment assembly 11 and the fittings 30-33 of the manifold assembly12, e.g., from the fluid treatment assembly fittings 22-25. In addition,in the first position of the actuator assembly 14, the fittings 22, 24at one end of the fluid treatment assembly 11 may be uncoupled from thecorresponding fittings 30, 32 of the manifold assembly 12, and thefittings 23, 25 at the other end of the fluid treatment arrangement 11may be uncoupled from the corresponding fittings 31, 33 of the manifoldassembly 12.

By moving the actuator assembly 14 to the second position, the couplers13 sealingly couple the fittings 22-25, 30-33 of the fluid treatmentassembly 11 and the manifold assembly 12. In addition, the fittings22-25 at the opposite ends of the fluid treatment assembly 11 aresealingly coupled to the corresponding fittings 30-33 of the manifoldassembly 12 at substantially the same time or soon after one another.For example, as the handle 70 is pivoted to the second position aboutthe pivot pin 71, the linkage 72 may cause the slide plates 73 totranslate linearly toward the ends of the fluid treatment assembly 11.The slide plates 73 may then force the sleeves 61 to slide along thebodies 40 of the manifold assembly fittings 30-33, while the supports 50hold the fittings 30-33 in place. As the slide plates 73 continue tomove toward the ends of the fluid treatment assembly 11, one end of eachsleeve 61 may slide off the body 40 of each manifold assembly fitting30-33 and move onto the body 40 of the corresponding fluid treatmentassembly fitting 22-25. The tapered end 63 of the sleeve 61 facilitatesthe insertion of the fluid treatment assembly fitting 22-25 into thebore 62 of the sleeve 61. Once the handle 70 reaches the secondposition, each sleeve 61 may engage both bodies 40 and the seal rings 64of the aligned fittings 22-25, 30-33, thereby sealingly coupling all thealigned fittings 22-25, 30-33 at substantially the same time or soonafter one another.

Once the fittings 22-25, 30-33 of the fluid treatment assembly 11 andthe manifold assembly 12 are sealingly coupled, fluid, e.g., gas,liquid, or a mixture of gases, liquids, and/or solids, may be directedthrough the fittings 22-25, 30-33. For example, a liquid to be treatedmay be directed via a feed conduit (not shown) through the feed fitting30 of the manifold assembly 12 and into the inlet fitting 22 of thefluid treatment assembly 11. The drain conduit (not shown) may be closedso no liquid may pass through the drain fittings 25, 33. As the liquidpasses into the housing 20 and through the fluid treatment medium 21,filling the housing 20, the gas originally in the housing 20 may bedirected out of the housing 20 ahead of the liquid via the vent fittings24, 32 and the vent conduit (not shown). Once all of the gas has beenvented, the vent conduit may be closed so no liquid flows through thevent fittings 24, 32. Flow of the liquid may then continue for a lengthof time from the inlet fitting 22 through the fluid treatment 21 to theoutlet fitting 23 of the fluid treatment assembly 11 and, hence, to thefiltrate fitting 31 and the filtrate conduit (not shown) of the manifoldassembly 12.

The remove the fluid treatment assembly 11, flow through the feed linemay be terminated and the drain line may be opened, emptying the fluidtreatment assembly 11 via the drain fittings 25, 33. All of the conduitsmay then be closed.

To uncouple the fittings 22-25, 30-33 of the fluid treatment assembly 11and the manifold assembly 12, the actuator assembly 14 may be movedbetween the second position and the first position. A handhold or thumbrest 91 may be fixedly attached to the bracket 35 to facilitate raisingthe pivotable handle 70. For example, the handle 70 may be pivoted fromthe lowered position to the raised position. As the handle 70 is pivotedto the first position about the pivot pin 71, the linkage 72 may causethe slide plates 73 to translate linearly away from the ends of thefluid treatment assembly 11. The slide plates 73 may then force thesleeves 61 to slide along the bodies 40 of the aligned fittings 22-25,30-33 away from the ends of the fluid treatment assembly 11. As theslide plates 73 continue to move away from the ends of the fluidtreatment assembly 11, each sleeve 61 slides off of the correspondingfitting 22-25 of the fluid treatment assembly 11. Once the handle 70returns to the raised position, the sleeves 61 are disposed only alongthe bodies 40 of the manifold assembly fittings 30-33. With the couplers13 uncoupled form the fittings 22-25 of the fluid treatment assembly 11,the spent fluid treatment assembly 11 may be removed from the carriage26. A new or cleaned fluid treatment assembly may then be installed aspreviously described.

For many embodiments, including the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,the couplers 13 may sealingly couple the aligned fittings 22-25, 30-33of the fluid treatment assembly 11 and the manifold assembly 12 withoutany engagement between the aligned fittings 22-25, 30-33. Althoughembodiments of the fluid treatment arrangement may be structured toengage the aligned fittings, the lack of engagement has many advantages.For example, because the fittings fail to engage one another, they maybe fabricated to much less demanding tolerances and without a complex,e.g., leak-proof, nozzle or receptacle. This lowers cost and increasesreliability. Further, because the coupler may sealingly couple thefittings without engagement of the fittings, fittings of many differenttypes, even fittings with mismatched nozzles and/or receptacles, may beused, as long as the fitting bodies have an outer (or inner) diametercorresponding to the inner (or outer) diameter(s) of the coupler. Thisgreatly enhances the versatility of the fluid treatment arrangement.

In addition, for many embodiments, including the embodiment shown inFIGS. 2 and 3, the fittings 22, 24, 23, 25 at both ends of the fluidtreatment assembly 11 may sealingly couple to the corresponding manifoldassembly fittings 30, 32, 31 and 33 with one movement of the actuatorassembly 14 from the first position to the second position. The fittingsas both ends may similarly uncouple with one movement of the actuatorassembly from the second position to the first position. While fluidtreatment arrangements may be configured without this feature, couplingor uncoupling fittings at both ends has several advantages. For example,a spend fluid treatment assembly may be replaced with a new or cleanedfluid treatment assembly very quickly. By simply moving the actuatorassembly from the second position to the first position, the fittings atboth ends of the fluid treatment assembly may be uncoupled from thecorresponding manifold assembly fittings, and the spent fluid treatmentassembly can be quickly removed. Similarly, after a new or cleaned fluidtreatment assembly is positioned in the carriage, the fittings at bothends of the fluid treatment assembly may be quickly coupled to thecorresponding manifold assembly fittings by simply moving the actuatorfrom the first position to the second position. The ability to rapidlyreplace fluid treatment assemblies reduces downtime and, therefore,increases system throughput.

Further, for many embodiments, including the embodiments shown in FIGS.2 and 3, the fittings 30-33 of the manifold assembly 12 may bedetachably mounted to the supports 50. Similarly, the coupler 13 may bedetachably mounted to the slide plates 73. While fluid treatmentarrangements may be configured with permanently or semipermanentlymounted manifold assembly fittings and couplers, detachably mounting thefittings and/or coupler has many advantages. For example, detachablymounting the fittings and/or couplers allows them to be easily andthoroughly cleaned, refurbished, and reused. Many fluids, includingpigmented fluids and suspended dispersions such as photoresists, containmaterial which can settle and collect in the channels and creviceswithin the fittings and couplers, plugging them. The manifold assemblyfittings 30-33 may be uncoupled from the fluid conduits of the manifoldassembly 12 at the coupling 44. The fittings 30-33 and/or the couplers13 may also be detached, e.g., directly detached, from the supports 50and the slide plates 73 by forcing them from the cutouts 53, 83 throughthe openings 54, 85, for example, by hand. The fittings 30-33 and thecouplers 13 may then be disassembled and cleaned. Damaged pieces, e.g.,seal rings 64, sleeves 61, or fitting bodies 40, may be replaced. Thefittings 30-33 and couplers 13 may then be reassembled and reattached tothe supports 53 and slide plates 83, e.g., directly reattached byforcing them by hand into the cutouts 53, 83. The fittings 30-33 of themanifold assembly 12 may then be recoupled to the fluid conduits at thecouplings 44. Being able to easily, quickly, and thoroughly clean orreplace the fittings and the couplers reduces downtime, enhances theperformance of the fluid treatment arrangement, and increasesthroughput.

Detachably mounting the fittings and/or the couplers also significantlyenhances the versatility of the fluid treatment arrangements. Forexample, fluid treatment assemblies with many different types offittings may be used with one manifold assembly by simply detaching,e.g., directly detaching, incompatible fittings and/or couplers from thesupports and/or slide plates and uncoupling the fittings from the fluidconduits of the manifold assembly. Fittings and/or couplers, which arecompatible with the fittings of a fluid treatment assembly may then bereattached, e.g., directly reattached, to the supports and/or slideplates. The fittings may be coupled to the fluid conduits of themanifold assembly and the new manifold assembly fittings or couplers maybe coupled to the fittings of the fluid treatment assembly. This featurealso reduces the inventory of parts maintained for the manifoldassembly.

While various aspects of the invention have been previously describedand have been illustrated in the figures, the invention is not limitedto these embodiments. For instance, one of more of the features of theseembodiments may be eliminated without departing from the scope of theinvention. For example, the fittings of the fluid treatment arrangementand the manifold assembly at one end of the fluid treatment assembly,e.g., the lower end in FIGS. 1-3, may be eliminated, the remainingfittings being located at only one end of the fluid treatment assembly,e.g., the upper end. The lower portion of the bracket, the lowersupport, and the lower slide plate, as well as the portion of thelinkage associated with the lower slide plate may also be eliminated.

Further, one or more features of one embodiment may be combined with oneor more features of other embodiments and/or one or more features of anembodiment may be modified without departing from the scope of theinvention. For example, the actuator arrangement, such as the linkageand the slide plates, may be modified to allow the couplers to bedisposed only on the fittings of the fluid treatment assembly when theactuator assembly is in the first position and the aligned fittings areuncoupled from one another. Moving the actuator assembly to the secondposition may then include linearly translating the slide plates awayfrom the end(s) of the fluid treatment assembly and sliding the couplersonto the bodies of the manifold assembly fittings, sealingly couplingthe aligned fittings.

Further, embodiments having different features can still be within thescope of the invention. For example, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a fluidtreatment arrangement 10 may be similar to the fluid treatmentarrangement 10 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. (Similar features in bothembodiments are identified by the same reference numerals.) However, inthe fluid treatment arrangement 10 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the actuatorassembly 14 couples and uncouples the aligned fittings 22-25, 30-33without any couplers. For example, the fittings 30-33 of the manifoldassembly 12 may be mounted to the actuator assembly 14, including theslide plates 73 of the actuator assembly 14. The slide plates 73 maythen serve as the support for the fittings 30-33 of the manifoldassembly 12. The manifold assembly fittings 30-33 may be mounted to theactuator assembly 14, e.g., the slide plates 73, permanently,semipermanently, detachably, or directly detachably. For example, themanifold assembly fittings 30-33 may be mounted to the slide plates 73in a snap fit arrangement similar to that described for the fittings30-33 and the support 50 in FIGS. 1-3.

The actuator assembly 14 of the fluid treatment arrangement 10 shown inFIGS. 7 and 8 may be moved between a first position and a secondposition to couple the aligned fittings 22-25, 30-33 and between thesecond position and the first position to uncouple the aligned fittings22-25, 30-33. The movement of the actuator assembly 14 in FIGS. 7 and 8may be similar to the movement of the actuator assembly 14 in FIGS. 2and 3. However, in the fluid treatment arrangement 10 of FIGS. 7 and 8,the aligned fittings 22-25, 30-33 are sealingly coupled by engaging thefittings 22-25 of the fluid treatment assembly 11 with the correspondingfittings 30-33 of the manifold assembly 12. For example, a nozzle 42 onone of the aligned fittings may be engaged in a corresponding receptacle43 on the other of the aligned fittings. Uncoupling the aligned fittingsincludes disengaging the fittings.

A fluid treatment arrangement 10 may include a manifold assembly 12having fittings 30, 31 which are permanently attached to the support 50,as shown in FIG. 9 when FIG. 9, a pair of fluid treatment arrangements10 are connected in parallel. Alternatively, the pair may be connectedin series (not shown). Each fluid treatment arrangement 10 may besimilar to the fluid treatment arrangement 10 shown in FIGS. 1-3.(Similar features in both embodiments are identified by the samereference numerals.) However, in each fluid treatment element 10 shownin FIG. 9, two of the fittings 30, 31 of the manifold assembly 12 may bepermanently mounted to the support 50, for example, by a weld 92. Theoperation of the fluid treatment arrangements 10 in FIG. 9 may besimilar to the operation of the fluid treatment arrangement 10 in FIGS.1-3, except two of the fittings 30, 31 of the manifold assembly 12 arenot attachable and detachable.

The present invention is thus not restricted to the particularembodiments which are described and illustrated but includes allembodiments and modifications that may fall within the scope of theclaims.

1. A fluid treatment arrangement comprising: a fluid treatment assemblyhaving at least one fitting; a manifold assembly having at least onefitting; a hollow coupler; and an actuator assembly associated with atleast one of the fluid treatment assembly, the manifold assembly and thecoupler, the actuator assembly being movable between a first positionwherein the coupler is uncoupled from at least one of a fitting of afluid treatment assembly and a fitting of a manifold assembly and asecond position wherein the coupler sealingly couples the fittings ofthe fluid treatment assembly and the manifold assembly, thereby allowingfluid to flow between the fittings.
 2. A method for operating a fluidtreatment arrangement comprising moving an actuator assembly between afirst position wherein a coupler is uncoupled from at least one of afitting of the fluid treatment assembly and a fitting of a manifoldassembly and a second position wherein the coupler sealingly couples thefittings of the fluid treatment assembly and the manifold assembly,thereby allowing fluid to flow between the fittings.
 3. A fluidtreatment arrangement comprising: a fluid treatment assembly including afitting; a support; and a manifold assembly including a fittingdetachably mounted to the support, wherein the fittings of the manifoldassembly and the fluid treatment assembly are arranged to be coupled toand uncoupled from one another.
 4. A method for operating a fluidtreatment arrangement comprising: uncoupling a fitting of a manifoldassembly and a fitting of a fluid treatment assembly; detaching thefitting of the manifold assembly from a support; reattaching the fittingto the support; and coupling the reattached fitting of the manifoldassembly and a fitting of a fluid treatment assembly.
 5. A method foroperating a fluid treatment arrangement comprising: uncoupling a firstfitting of a manifold assembly and a fitting of a fluid treatmentassembly; detaching the first fitting of the manifold assembly from asupport; attaching a second fitting of the manifold assembly to thesupport; and coupling the second fitting of the manifold assembly and afitting of a fluid treatment assembly.
 6. A fluid treatment arrangementcomprising: a fluid treatment assembly including first and secondopposite ends, a first fitting associated with the first end, and asecond fitting associated with the second end; a manifold assemblyincluding a first fitting and a second fitting; an actuator assemblycooperatively arranged with at least one of the fluid treatment assemblyand the manifold assembly, wherein the actuator assembly is movablebetween a first position, wherein the first fittings of the fluidtreatment assembly and the manifold assembly are uncoupled from oneanother and the second fittings of the fluid treatment assembly and themanifold assembly are uncoupled from one another, and a second position,wherein the first fittings of the fluid treatment assembly and themanifold assembly are sealingly coupled and the second fittings of thefluid treatment assembly and the manifold assembly are sealinglycoupled, thereby allowing fluid to flow between the first fittings andbetween the second fittings.
 7. A method for operating a fluid treatmentarrangement comprising moving an actuator assembly between a firstposition, wherein a first fitting at one end of a fluid treatmentassembly and a first fitting of a manifold assembly are uncoupled fromone another and a second fitting at an opposite end of the fluidtreatment assembly and a second fitting of the manifold assembly areuncoupled from one another, and a second position, wherein the firstfittings of the fluid treatment assembly and the manifold assembly aresealingly coupled to one another and the second fittings of the fluidtreatment assembly and the manifold assembly are sealingly coupled toone another, thereby allowing fluid to flow between the first fittingsand between the second fittings.